Health board receives funding for seniors' home
Derek Neary
Northern News Services
Fort Simpson (Apr 27/01) - Deh Cho Health and Social Services has received the government funding it requested to convert the former Stanley Isaiah seniors' home into a supported-living environment.
"People that need support through home care and activity will live there," said Kathy Tsetso, chief executive officer for DCHSS. "There will be live-in support there... it's not a care facility, where nursing care will be provided, it's support and supervision."
It's hoped the 14-bed facility will be up and running by late June or early July. There is to be no charge to tenants, according to Tsetso.
"It's quite exciting... it's really relatively new for the Territories, that sort of format," she said. "Right now we're working on terms of reference to put together for the tender package because it's going to be put out to tender in the community."
It's hoped that a couple will occupy the attached apartment, and staff will carry out activities during the day. There's also a kitchen in the building where meals will be provided.
Mavis Cli-Michaud, chairperson of the Fort Simpson Housing Authority, which owns the building, said the Housing Authority has been supportive of DCHSS' initiative, even though it took a year to get the funding.
"The unit was named the Stanley Isaiah seniors' home, and that's what we wanted to keep it, like a care facility," she said.
One room may be set aside for medical boarding, so people from other communities who require health care in Fort Simpson will have a place to stay.
"It's not just a Fort Simpson facility, it's a regional facility, just like long-term care," said Tsetso.
Cli-Michaud said only one other proposal was submitted for use of the building, but it was rejected because it primarily used the facility's kitchen, rather than the whole building.
The Housing Authority will continue to provide heat and maintenance for the facility, she noted.
The building was heated while vacant over the past year, but it had to be because the boilers in that building also provide heat for the surrounding individual "cluster" units, she explained.
